Key-actuated marking mechanism.



K. OSWALD.

KEY ACTUATED MARKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULYI7, m2. RENEWED MAR. 3.1916.

1 1 99,29 9 Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

5 Q3) we: 26 3.7 35 33 32 M) %Z%@ a? M UNITED STATES PA ENT oEEIoE.

KoLMEN OSWALD, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To 0. MAURICE PEAZBODY, or SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

KEY-AGTUATED MARKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 17, 1912, Serial No. 709,976. Renewed March 3, 1916. Serial No. 81,998.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KoLMEN OSWALD, a Hungarian citizen, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Actuated Marking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to key actuated marking mechanism, such as is employed, for example, in portable watchmens clocks, and my invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of marking devices for such clocks.

The object of my invention is to improve key-actuated marking mechanism, particularly, marking mechanism of watchmens clocks.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with relation to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a face view of a clock provided with my improved marking mechanism, the hinged cover of the clock case being shown in the open position,

to disclose the dial. Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary face view of the upper movement plate of the clock, the dial having been re moved, and the pointer and matrix-support having been broken away. Fig. 3 shows a face view of the under side of the movement plate, the clockwork being omitted, and in particular shows a bottom View of the keybarrel, the marking tumblers and the spring of said tumblers as viewed from beneath. Fig. 41 shows a side view of the clock case closed, and shows particularly the key-hole in said case. Fig. 5 shows a central vertical section of the clock case and a front elevation of the key-actuated marking mechanism. Fig. 6 shows a transverse section of the marking mechanism on the line wm of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 7 shows a similar section on the line y-y of Fig. 3, the shank of a key being shown within the key-barrel. Fig. 8 shows an axial section of the key-barrel and associated parts on the section line 22 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 shows a rear elevation of the key-actuated mechanism. Fig. 10 shows atransverse section of the key-barrel and associated parts, the section being taken on the line v--o of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows a fragmentary elevation of one of the keys.

Fig. 12 shows an end view of one of the mechanism comprises a plurality of pivoted tumblers of peculiar form, adapted to be actuated, one or another, by the ward or wards of a suitable key or keys, when such keys are inserted into the clock and turned. A suitable key barrel is provided for the reception of the keys, and the wards of these keys are arranged to move the tumblers away from the dial, when said keys are rotated after insertion, the tumbler or tumblers actuated by the ward or wards of said keys being moved by such ward or wards away from the dial on which impressions are to be made, against the action of suitable springs. As soon as a key ward has passed beyond its appropriate tumbler, the latter springs back under the influence of a spring, and a projecting end of such tumbler, which end carries a suitable marking die, such as a numeral die, strikes an impressible dial, making an imprint on such dial corresponding to the character on the end of such tumbler.

In the drawings, 1 designates the case of the clock, 2 the cover thereof, 3 the main arbor thereof, which arbor will be driven, as is customary, by suitable clock work, not shown, and 4 designates an impressible dial of paper or some like material mounted on said arbor to rotate therewith. The dial commonly has printed upon it hour numbers, and is customarily divided by printed lines into suitable hour spaces. Above the dial there is, commonly, a stationary pointer or indicator 5, secured to the upper movement plate 6, and this pointer is commonly located directly above an opening 7, (see Fig. 2), of the upper movement plate 6, through which opening the marking ends of the Several tumblers may project, when said tumblers fly back after being actuated by key wards. The under side of this indicator or pointer 5 is commonly provided with suitable matrices corresponding to the numerals carried by these tumblers.

8, (see particularly Figs. 3, 6 and 7) designate said tumblers. I have shown a clock comprising six such tumblers. There may be more or less of these tumblers, according to circumstances. Each tumbler has an upwa-rdly extending portion 9 provided at its upper end with a marking die 10. A suitable combspring 11 is provided with a plurality of suitable independent spring-leaves 12, the ends of said spring-leaves or tines being bent upwardly, as shown particularly in Fig. 7, such ends bearing against rounded heads 13 of the several tumblers.

To the upper movement plate is secured two brackets 14 and 15, forming sides of a Usection member 16 in which is mounted the pivot 17 of the several tumblers 8. Adjacent to the ends of such tumblers there is a key-barrel 18 rotatably mounted in the brackets 14 and 15, this key-barrel having a slot 1S through which the ward or wards of a key may project to engage one or another of the tumblers. Therkey-barrel is provided with a projecting lug 19 (Fig. 3) to which is secured a suitable spring 20 tending normally to hold said key barrel in the position shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7. hen a proper key is inserted in the keybarrel and turned, such motion of the key turns the key -barrel correspondingly, against the tension of spring 20. The keybarrel is provided with a notch 21 in its rim into which a spring-pressed pawl 22 drops when the key-barrel is turned so that the wards of the key have passed and released the tumblers which they engaged, said pawl holding the key-barrel against backward motion until said pawl is tripped, as hereinafter described.

I have shown the key-barrel as provided with a transverse partition 23, and have shown the key, 24:, as provided with a corresponding slot 25. This partition of the key barrel and slot in the key are not necessary features of my invention, but are desirable features, since they provide means whereby different clocks, and different keys, may be distinguished one from another; for this partition may be made of different lengths in different clocks, and the corresponding slot 25 in the keys may be'made of different depths, so that keys of any one group will correspond to their particular clock only.

To insure that the key-barrel may not be.

rotated until a corresponding key has been inserted to the full depth, I provide a looking pin 26 and a flat spring 27, which spring normally holds the pin 26 seated in a hole 28 in the partition 14. Pin 26 is carried by a small plate 29 provided with two guide pins, 80 and 31, slidably mounted in the end of the key-barrel; One of these pins, 30, pro

jects through into the interior of the keybarrel, on one side of the partition 23. The other pin, 31, is located on the opposite side of the partition. One of the two sides into which th end portion of the key 24 is divided by the slot 25 is longer than the other, and when the key is inserted the full depth, such longer side, (in the construction shown), engages the bin 30 and presses the same out, so pressing out the locking pin 26 against the pressure of spring 27 and thereby freeing the key-barrel, so that the latter may be rotated.

One side of the key-barrel, (in the construction shown the side into which the shorter side of the key projects,) preferably has a length or depth, closely corresponding to the length of such corresponding-side of the key. By having the two sides of the key-barrel of different lengths, or depths, and the two sides of the key, (or at least that side which does not operate pin 30), of corresponding lengths; by providing the partition 23 and the corresponding slot 25 in the key; and by'providing the locking pin 26 and its actuating pin 30, arranged to be actuated by one side of the key, I substantially insure that the clock shall not be actuated by keys which are not intended to actuate it; for since a key cannot rotate the key barrel unless it be inserted to its full depth, so as to press the pin 26 out of engagement with the locking hole 28, and since such key cannot be inserted far enough to so press out the pin 26, unless the slot 25 of that key be of at least the proper length, and unless the two sides of the key be of the proper relative length with respect to each other and with respect to the length of the slot 25, and since the length of the partition 23 and slot 25 may be varied through wide limits in different clocks and groups of keys, and since the relative depths of the two sides of the key-barrel and the relative lengths of the two sides of keys of different groups may also be varied within wide limits for different clocks and different groups of keys, a large number of possible permutations is provided, making it possible to make a large number of different clocks, with corresponding groups of keys, each clock being capable of being operated by keys of its own group only.

I customarily provide each key with one or more wards 32, corresponding to one or more of the tumblers 8, and I customarily provide each key with a further end ward 33, which does not correspond to one of the tumblers, but is longer than the tumbleractuating wards, and is provided with a rounded end adapted to engage the locking pawl 22, as the key is withdrawn from the clock, and to lift said pawl, so freeing the key barrel and permitting it to turn back to normal position. It will be obvious that this locking pawl and the ward adapted to actuate it form additional means for insuring against the operation of the clock by keys other than those which are intended to be used with the clock, for if the end ward 33 be not long enough it will fail to release the pawl when the key is withdrawn, and if the key barrel be left in the operated position rather than in the normal position when one key is withdrawn, other keys subsequently inserted cannot operate the tumblers, because the partition 23 of the keybarrel then prevents the insertion of a key (either the same key or a different key) in such position that that key may operate the tumblers. If a clock be found, therefore, with its key barrel locked in a position such that other keys cannot be inserted in position to actuate the tumblers, that is evidence that an unauthorized key has been used in the clock. If on the other hand the pawl-releasing ward 33 be too long, then the key cannot be withdrawn except by violence such as will leave obvious traces.

As a further means of individualizing clocks and keys therefor, I may provide the key-barrel with one or more inwardly projecting pins 34, and may provide the key or keys for the clock with corresponding external grooves 35. In different clocks, the pins 34 may obviously be of different depths and different locations, both angularly and longitudinally of the key-barrel, necessitating that the slots 35 of the corresponding keys shall be of proper length and proper angular position. These pins 34 and keys slots 35 therefore provide a further series of permutations whereby different clocks and different 5 groups of keys may be distinguished.

It will be obvious that the number of tumblers 8 may vary in different clocks according to requirements and that the width of these tumblers, and also the length of the key barrels, may differ in different clocks, thereby providing other means for individualizing different clocks and different groups of keys.

While the locking device for the key-barrel, comprising the pin 26, which locking device releases the tumbler-barrel only when a proper key is inserted to the full depth in the key-barrel, is of value in key-controlled mechanism generally; andwhile the looking device comprising the pawl 22, which pawl engages and locks the key-barrel as soon as said key-barrel has been rotated so far that the ward or wards of the key have passed beyond the tumbler or tumblers actuated thereby, so permitting said tumblers to fly upward, is also. useful in key-controlled mechanism generally: yet these two locking devices are of particular value in key-controlled marking mechanism, since th y prevent actuation of the marking tumblers by a bent wire or similar instrument lnserted through the key-barrel and 1ts slot 18*, or by a skeleton key.

Key-controlled marking mechanism dif-' fers from ordinary locks, among other respects, in that in ordinary locks it is usually required that all of the tumblers be moved to predetermined positions, whereas in watchmens clocks it is required that at one time, a selected tumbler or tumblers shall be operated, while at other times other selected tumblers shall be actuated. Except for the means herein described, it might be possible to operate the tumblers selectively by a bent wire or like instrument. The construction of my key-barrel is such that a bent wire or similar instrument cannot attain such position that it can actuate the tumblers, unless the key-barrel be rotated somewhat from its normal position; and as previously explained, to rotate the key-barrel it is necessary first to press out locking pin 26. It is practically impossible, by means of a bent wire or similar instrument, to simultaneously hold out the pin 26 and rotate the key-barrel far enough'to bring the several tumblers within the range of action of such bent wire or like instrument. The partition 23 of the key-barrel materially assists in making it practically impossible to actuate the tumblers by a bent wire or like instrument, since said partition materially decreases the range of action of the bent wire or like instrument. If attempt be made to actuate the tumblers by a skeleton key, it may be possible, by means of a skeleton key having a single ward, to force out the pin 26 and rotate the key-barrel; but in such case, because of the spring 20 the key-barrel will return to normal position, and will be locked again by pin 26, upon rotating such skeleton key, and with it the key-barrel, back to such position that the single ward of the skeleton key may engage one of the tumblers. 7

It is practically impossible, with the spring-returned key barrel shown, to first unlock the key barrel by means of a skeleton key, such unlocking requiring rotation of the key-barrel, and then to rotate the keybarrel backward far enough to permit the key to be withdrawn somewhat so as to be in position to actuate one of the tumblers, without permitting the key-barrel to rotate backward far enough so that the pin 26 again locks the key-barrel. The pawl 22, by locking the key-barrel once the latter has been moved far enough so that the ward of a key has released one of the tumblers, makes it impracticable to operate another tumbler by that key or by some further instrument, so that even though a person succeed in making a skeleton key of such accuracy that by it the locking pin 26 of the key barrel may be pressed out and one marking tumbler actuated, it is impossible, by means of that key or another-instrument to actuate a second tumbler; therefore if the regular keys be arranged to actuate two or more of the marking tumblers, it is practically impossible to similarly actuate the tumblers by means of a skeleton key alone or in connection with another instrument, for the pawl holds the key-barrel in such position that it is impossible to actuate one of the tumblers by another instrument while the keybarrel is locked in operated position. By so arranging the keys that all of the regular keys when used give records of two or more numerals each, it is practically impossible, therefore, to produce similar records by means of skeleton keys or other false instruments. In a word, it is practically impossible, with key-controlled marking mechanism constructed as shown, to construct skeleton keys or false keys making possible the falsification of records. Besides the comb-springs 11 for moving upward such tumblers as are actuated by a key, I provide an opposing spring 36 which returns the tumblers once they have been actuated.

The key-hole 37 in the clock case, through which the actuating key is introduced, is commonly provided with two ward slots, 38 and 39, 38 corresponding to the position for entrance of the key, and 39 corresponding to the position for withdrawal of the key. Commonly, one of the wards (82 in Fig. 11) of each key is so located that the slightest withdrawal of the key brings this ward 32* within one of the corresponding ward-slots 40 and 4:1, in partition 15, so preventing any rotation of the key in such withdrawn position. This further insures against success of attempt to operate a tumbleror tumblers other than that or those which that key is intended to actuate, by manipulation of the key.

To guard against entry of dirt or the like, and to further protect the mechanism against improper manipulation, I commonly provide a sliding key-hole guard 42, mounted in a recess 43 in a guard plate 44 secured to the clock case, said guard having a flanged portion 45 within the clock case. This guard works within a slot 46 of the clock case and is guided by said clock case. A spring 47 normally holds said guard in closed position. The guard is provided with a beveled face 18 and the key is provided on one side with a correspondingly beveled portion 49, which, as the key is introduced into the key-hole, acts against the beveled surface 48 of the keyhole guard, pressing said key-hole guard backward.

I do not in this application claim my improved key-actuated mechanism broadly, as such mechanism is claimed broadly in a companion application filed July 17, 1912, Sr. No, 709,977. In this application I claim my key-actuated mechanism only in its combi nations and features peculiar to key-actuated marking mechanism.

I do not in this application claim the guard 48, as such key-hole guard is claimed in a further companion application filed July 17 1912, Sr. No. 709,978, now Patent No. 1,076,696, dated October 28, 1913.

In the figures of the drawings in which the upper movement plate of the clock is shown, I have not indicated the various boaring-holes of said plate, as these holes are, properly, part of the clock work, and form no portion of the present invention.

What I claim is:-

1. Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising in combination a rotatably mounted tubular key-barrel, a plurality of marking tumblers arranged to be engaged, one or another and actuated by a key located in and rotating with said key-barrel, a series of keys each adapted to be located in and to rotate with said key-barrel, said keys having differently arranged wards whereby each key may operate a tumbler other than that operated by the other keys, said keybarrel having a slot, normally near said tumblers, through which and beyond the surface of the key barrel a ward or wards of each such key will project, when such key is inserted into operative position in the key-barrel, into position for engaging one or another of said tumblers, and further provided with a transversely extending member serving to restrict the range of motion of instruments other than proper keys which may be introduced into said key-barrel to actuate one or more of said tumblers.

2. Key-actuating marking mechanism comprising in combination a rotatable key-barrel, a plurality of marking tumblers arranged to be engaged and actuated one or another by a key located within and rotating with said key-barrel, a series of keys each adapted to be located in and to rotate with said keybarrel, said keys having differently ar ranged wards whereby each key may operate a tumbler other than that operated by the other keys, said key-barrel having a slot normally near said tumblers, through which a ward or wards of each such key will project, beyond the surface of said keybarrel, when such key is inserted into operative position inthe key-barrel, into position for engaging one or another of said tumblers, and locking means arranged to lock said key-barrel immediately after the latter has been rotated from normal position to a position such that one or more of said tumblers has been actuated.

3. Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising incombination a rotatable key-barrel, one Or more marking tumblers arranged to be engaged and actuated by a key located within and rotating with said key-barrel,

and locking means adapted to lock said key barrel when the latter has been rotated from normal position to a position such that one or more of said tumblers has been actuated, said locking means arranged to be operated by a key in the key-barrel, as the key is withdrawn from the key-barrel, to release said key-barrel.

4. Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising in combination a key-barrel having a lateral slot, adapted for the passage of the wards of a key, one or more marking tumblers arranged to be engaged and actuated by the wards of a key located within said key-barrel and rotating therewith, said tumblers and key-barrel so located relatively that a key so actuating said tumblers passes beyond and releases the tumblers during its rotation, and a frame in which said keybarrel is rotatably mounted, said frame having two angularly-related slots for the passage of the wards of a key, one of said slots located at the position for introduction of the. key, the other located at the position for withdrawal of the key, and locking means arranged to lock the key-barrel upon rotation thereof to the point at which the tumblers are released, said locking means arranged to be operated by a key in the key-barrel, as the key is withdrawn from the key-barrel, through the withdrawal slot of the said frame to release the keybarrel.

5. Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising in combination a record carrier and marking mechanism, one of which is movable with respect to the other, said marking mechanism comprising means for marking upon the record, including a plurality of tumblers, a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive a key provided with means for actuating said tumblers, and rotation-preventing means for said key-barrel normally preventing rotation thereof, and comprising means, adapted to be engaged by a proper key inserted into said key-barrel, whereby said locking means may be operated and caused to release the key-barrel, said key-barrel having a slot normally near said tumblers through which a ward or wards of such key may project into position for engaging a tumbler or tumblers, and further provided with a transversely extending member serving to restrict the range of motion of the v instruments other than proper keys, which may be introduced into said key-barrel to actuate one or more of said tumblers, and a series of keys each adapted to be located in and to rotate with said key barrel, said keys having differently arranged wards whereby each key may operate a tumbler other than that operated by the other keys, the wards of each such key, when the key is first inserted into the key-barrel, extending beyond the slot of the key barrel into position to engage and actuate one or more of such tumblers.

6. Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising in combination a record carrier and marking mechanism, one of which is movable with respect to the other, said marking mechanism comprising means for marking upon the record, including a plurality of tumblers, a rotatable key-barrel adapted to receive a key provided with means for actuating said tumblers, and rotation-preventing means for said key-barrel normally preventing rotation thereof, and comprising means, adapted to be engaged by a proper key inserted into said key-barrel, whereby said locking means may be operated and caused to release the key-barrel, and locking means adapted to lock said key-barrel when the latter has been rotated from normal position to a position such that one or more of said tumblers has been actuated, a series of keys adapted to be located in and to rotate with said key-barrel, said keys having differently arranged wards whereby each key may operate a tumbler other than that operated by the other keys, said key-barrel having a slot normally near said tumblers, through which a ward or wards of each such key will project, beyond the surface of said key-barrel, when such key is inserted into operative position in the key-barrel, into position for engaging one or another of said tumblers, said locking means arranged to be operated by a key in the key barrel as the latter is withdrawn from the key-barrel to release the key-barrel.

7 Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising in combination a record carrier and marking mechanism, one of which is movable with respect to the other, said marking mechanism comprising means for marking upon the record, including one or more tumblers, a key-barrel having a lateral slot adapted for the passage of wards of the key, one or more of said tumblers arranged to be engaged and actuated by the wards of akey located within said key-barrel and rotating therewith, said tumblers and key-barrel so located relatively, that a key so actuating said tumblers passes beyond and releases the tumblers during its rotation, and a frame in which said key-barrel is rotatably mounted, said frame having two angularly related slots for the passage of the wards of a key, one of said slots located at the position for introduction of the key, the other located at the position for withdrawal of the key, and locking means arranged to lock the keybarrel upon rotation thereof to the point at which the tumblers are released, said locking means arranged to release the key-barrel upon withdrawal of the key.

S. Key-actuated marking mechanism comprising in combination a plurality of marking tumblers, each consisting of a lever pivoted at one end and "having, ate point dis tant from such pivot, an angularly related extension, provided at its end with finarking means, each such tumbler provided beneath such extension, with a rounded head and a copiel of this patent may 'be obtained for nveeentreach, by addrening the "Commissioner of Patent, Waahington,'D. O."

In "testimony whereof I "have signed this specification inthe presenceo'ftwo subscrib- 10 'ing Witnesses.

KOLMEN OSWALD.

Witnesses:

H. M. MARBLE, E. S. Ross. 

